11 Makeup Tricks For Dark Skin

Being dark-skinned and finding makeup that works for you is way harder than it should be. While brands like Fenty Beauty gas made makeup access for BIPOC more accessible, it can still feel impossible to find the right tones to both complement and match your natural shade. Here are the ultimate hacks from the pros to make your gorgeous skin tone shine like the gem it is.

1. No frosted lips

It can be tempting to want to return to this early 2000s trend, but frosted makeup truly does nothing for dark skin. It actually looks too dramatic. Instead, opt for a solid color, which will make for a richer and more sophisticated look, highlighting your lips in a more positive way.

2. Avoid the red blush, play with darker colors

If you have darker tones, you can play with deep brown, plum, and brick toned blushes that fair-skinned people can’t pull off. These looks are luscious and romantic on all shades of brown and can accentuate cheekbones and other features, even doubling as a highlighter at times.

3. Test foundation on jawline

It’s the worst to test your foundation in the store under that horrible fluorescent lighting, only to go home and find that it’s not the right color at all. Instead, we suggest swatch testing on your jawline, and doing that test in natural sunlight so you can accurately assess the situation — even if it means leaving and re-entering the store after taking a #goldenhour selfie. Black Radiance and Fenty Beauty both have options that melt into the skin.

4. A matte powder that matches is a must

Avoiding shine and keeping a matte appearance is sometimes harder for those who don’t have fair skin. Try to find a powder that matches your skin tone, since translucent powder can sometimes give a white or washed out appearance to skin when you should be enhancing that glow. With the right powder, you might not even need any other makeup.

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